What is Chelation Theraphy?

“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999."

Principle #20: What is Chelation Theraphy?

“Chelation Theraphy is a non-surgical alternative treatment for cardiovascular diseases, gangrene and metal toxicities” (excerpt from the original article)

In recent years, many patients search for alternative medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Many are afraid that certain drugs might cause some serious side effects. In an old newspaper article, I have read about chelation. I must admit that it is something new to me so I have tried to know about it.

“Chelation (pronounced key-LAY-shun) is the use of a chemical substance to bind molecules, such as metals or minerals, and hold them tightly so they can be removed from the body. Chelation has been scientifically proven to remove excess or toxic metals before they can cause damage to the body. It was first used in the 1940's by the Navy to treat lead poisoning… The most common form of chelation therapy uses a man-made amino acid called EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid). EDTA removes heavy metals and minerals from the blood, such as lead, iron, copper, and calcium, and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating lead poisoning and poisoning from other heavy metals. (source: http://altmedicine.about.com/od/treatmentsfromatod/a/chelation.htm)

How is Chelation Theraphy administered?

EDTA is intravenously injected into the body of a patient through IV fluid. The treatment requires at least 30 sessions. It removes calcium deposits in the arteries, which clogs normal blood flow. If one can avoid surgery with the treatment, it is a very welcome alternative.

Is Chelation Theraphy Safe?

Chelation Theraphy has grown wide acceptance from physicians and alternative medicine professionals in recent years although it remains controversial. Chelation is generally safe particularly in the treatment of metal poisoning just as the excerpt above says. In fact, the use of chelation as a treatment has started during World War I, when gas poisoning has first been used in warfare. Chelation has been used as an antidote to arsenic-based poison gas.

However, there is a strong opposition to it by some doctors saying that the claim of chelation’s effectiveness to cure cardiovascular diseases is false and the studies that back up the claim are not enough.

The promise of Chelation Theraphy is beneficial to many patients who cannot and do not want to undergo surgery. However, patients must understand also the risks involved in any medical treatment that they want to take. See your doctor for proper guidance.

Image courtesy of: http://www.healingdaily.com/oral-chelation/oral-chelation-or-iv-chelation.htm

Is Caffeine Harmful to Health?

"99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999."

Principle #19: Is Caffeine Harmful to Health?

Over the past years, health experts have been talking about the potential hazard of caffeine to health. They say that “the caffeine in coffee, tea and cola drinks increases blood pressure and dehydrates the body. A cup of caffeine should be washed down by at least two glasses of water” (excerpt from the original article).

Caffeine acts as a stimulant to the brain. It wards off sleepiness and helps keep alertness. It is a natural “psycho-active” drug, a substance that stimulates the brain, that is readily available to consumers unlike drugs that require medical prescription. That is why coffee has been a “wake-up” beverage when someone wants to stay up while working or studying, to keep his brain working.

Caffeine is also a natural antioxidant and studies show that it has protective effects to the body against some diseases including certain types of cancer.

Experts say that there is no direct evidence that caffeine causes cardiovascular disease. It may even reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. In fact, there is a study that shows that drinking coffee may have minor protective effect against hypertension.

Caffeine can also protect the body from liver cirrhosis.

The US Food and Drugs Association recognizes “caffeine” as a safe food substance especially in cola.

Any harmful effect may arise from extreme or excessive intake. As a diuretic, it may cause frequent urination that’s why people who are traveling are advised to avoid caffeine. Excessive amounts may also cause insomnia in certain individuals.

Excessive intake of caffeine may lead to a certain condition called “caffeine intoxification”. The symptoms of caffeine intoxication are not unlike overdoses of other stimulants. It may include restlessness, fidgeting, anxiety, excitement, insomnia, flushing of the face, increased urination, gastrointestinal disturbance, muscle twitching, a rambling flow of thought and speech, irritability, irregular or rapid heart beat, and psychomotor agitation. In cases of much larger overdoses, mania, depression, lapses in judgment, disorientation, disinhibition, delusions, hallucinations, or psychosis may occur, and rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue) can be provoked (source: en.wikipedia.org)

Is caffeine harmful to health? Well, it depends on how much caffeine you take and if you have any health condition that would cause your body to react negatively to caffeine. Otherwise, normal caffeine intake like a cup of coffee or tea a day, and glass of cola may not cause harm.

Images Courtesy of:

en.wikipedia.org/

Benefits of Carageenan

“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999.

Principle #18: Benefits of Carageenan

Carageenan

“Carageenan is a healthy substitute for creams and other fatty, thickening and gelling agents. It improves palatability and appearance of food minus the fat and calories” (excerpt from the original article).

Carageenen is a product from seaweeds. It is a popular alternative to gelatin especially for vegetarians. There are three main commercial classes of carrageenan:

• Kappa forms strong, rigid gels in the presence of potassium ions; it reacts with dairy proteins. It is sourced mainly from Eucheuma cottonii.
• Iota forms soft gels in the presence of calcium ions. It is produced mainly from Eucheuma spinosum.
• Lambda does not gel, and is used to thicken dairy products. The most common source is Gigartina from South America. (source: en.wikipedia.org) 

Carageenan has medicinal value as well. Medical research suggests the effectiveness of carrageenan against the common cold virus. An Austrian company has introduced a nasal spray that contains carageenen in 2010, which claims direct treatment against the virus and not just for the symptoms.

In another study, “at the Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America suggest that carrageenans might function as a topical microbicide” (en.wikipedia.org). A microbicide is a compound or substance that reduces the infectivity of microbes, which could be virus or bacteria. Studies even suggest the potency of carageenan-based lubricant as personal microbicide in women against HPV and HIV viruses.

Carageenan is an amazing medical break through.


Image above courtesy of:
http://allenwang1225

Benefits of Eating Breakfast

“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999.

Principle #17: Benefits of Eating Breakfast

A full English breakfast with scrambled eggs, sausage, black pudding, bacon, mushrooms, baked beans, hash browns, and half a tomato c/o Wikipedia

“Breakfast skippers are most likely to overeat and be overweight than those who take a high-carbo breakfast. A cereal with low-fat milk, a banana and orange juice for breakfast provide 90 percent carbohydrate to fuel your day.” (excerpt from the original article)

Many people think that skipping meals can help them reduce weight and usually, they skip breakfast but that is wrong. As a matter of fact, skipping breakfast contributes to obesity because it would make us eat more later in the day since we feel so starve. Scientifically, long hours of fasting increases insulin in the blood, which also increases the accumulation of fat.

Health professionals say that “breakfast” is the most important meal of the day. Coming off from 8-10 hours of sleep, the body needs an energy source to keep up with the demand of the entire working day from the food that we eat at breakfast.

However, some skip breakfast not just for trying to lose weight but because they do not have much time to prepare food and eat in the morning since they rush to work. Often, they just eat in fast food restaurants.  

There are however, easy to prepare but tasteful and nutritious recipe that is perfect for breakfast. For example:

Oatmeal Congee

by Chef Gigi Angkaw

from Good Houskeeping Magazine

This recipe is good for one serving and takes 15 minutes to prepare.

1 pack instant oatmeal

¼ cup water

1-1/2 cups chicken stock

½ cup chicken, boiled and flaked

1 hard boiled egg sliced

2 tablespoon chopped spring onion

3 pcs. calamansi

2 tablespoon patis

Procedure:

Combine oatmeal and water. Mix well. Simmer chicken stock, add oatmeal mixture. Top with chicken, eggs, and sprinkle with spring onion. Add calamansi and patis.

Enjoy a healthy lifestyle while indulging in the benefits of eating breakfast.

Dietary Benefits of Brown Rice

“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999.

Principle #16: Benefits of Brown Rice

"Brown rice is rich in thiamine, niacin and fiber. It is also more filling than white rice." (excerpt from the original article)

Brown and white rice are the same in terms of carbohydrate, calorie, and protein content but the former has richer nutritional components compared the the latter.

In the process of polishing rice, there are certain nutrients that are lost like Vitamin B1, B3 and Iron. Producers of enriched rice return these nutrients to make more healthy rice. The Food and Drug Administration require them to do this.

Other nutrients that are lost in the polishing process are magnesium and bran oil. Brown rice is said to have 195 mg of magnesium per cup. This is reduced to only 84 mg per cup of white rice. Bran oil is said to help lower LDL (Low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol.

Most people like white rice more but with this information maybe we can have brown rice more often in our diet.

Image:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_rice

Benefits of Skin Brushing

“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999.

Principle #15: Benefits of Skin Brushing

"Brushing the skin with dry brushes or “loofah” sponges can slough off or exfoliate the dead skin cells to reveal fresh, younger looking skin." (excerpt from the original article)

According to a website that I have visited, skin brushing is more than just a beauty regimen. It provides health benefits for the body. According to whole-body-detox-diet.com, skin brushing is a good addition to a person’s detoxification program as a form of therapy. It website says, skin brushing: 

• Stimulates blood and lymph flow
• Removes dead skin cells
• Stimulates the hormone and oil glands
• Reduces cellulite
• Strengthens the immune system
• Stimulates the nervous system, tones the muscles, tightens the skin
• Nurtures your body

(Source: http://www.whole-body-detox-diet.com/dry-skin-brushing.html)

It is astonishing that simple skin brushing can give a lot of benefits to the body. Let’s just take the lymphatic system of the body, which is essential for the body’s cleansing process. Lymphocites or white blood cells are responsible for bringing nutrients to cells and take wastes out. Then, they go back to the blood vessels so they could release the wastes they have gathered. However, the body needs to get rid of these lymphs right away to avoid swollen tissues due to high toxicity level. Skin brushing can help stimulate and speed up the cleansing process of the lymphatic system.

Loofah Sponge (wikipedia)

Skin brushes are made up of soft natural fiber bristles. Loofah sponges are also good for skin brushing. In the Philippines, loofah is patola, a green vegetable akin to cucumber. It would be ideal to do skin brushing in the morning before shower. Be gentle on sensitive parts of the body like the breasts but vigorously on other parts like the sole of the feet, arms, legs and areas where cellulite builds up.

Benefits of Breathing Exercise

“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999.

Principle #14: Benefits of Breathing Exercise

"Breathing techniques can be very successful in “calming the mind and nurturing the spirit”. Coupled with meditation, it can reduce stress and promote good health." (excerpt from the original article)

Experts have proposed the value of breathing and meditation in handling stress. They say that it relaxes the body and thus, it provides relief from fatigue and stress related irritations.

While I am surfing the net, I have come across Dr Andrew Weil’s site where he teaches different styles of breathing exercises. He says, "Practicing regular, mindful breathing can be calming and energizing and can even help with stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive disorders." (Andrew Weil, M.D.)

Here’s an example of one breathing exercise he teaches:

Sit in a comfortable position with the spine straight and head inclined slightly forward. Gently close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Then let the breath come naturally without trying to influence it. Ideally it will be quiet and slow, but depth and rhythm may vary.

•     To begin the exercise, count "one" to yourself as you exhale.
•     The next time you exhale, count "two," and so on up to "five."
•     Then begin a new cycle, counting "one" on the next exhalation.

Never count higher than "five," and count only when you exhale. You will know your attention has wandered when you find yourself up to "eight," "12," even "19."

Try to do 10 minutes of this form of meditation.

Personally, when you find yourself in a very stressful day, nothing beats talking to a person who listens well and responds swiftly. The best form of meditation is still prayer. You may not hear God’s voice audibly, but He warms your heart more than any other. His presence will calm your weary soul and lift your spirit up. You won’t get disappointed if you try it.